Martin Bright

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"While I think the charge of "delegitimisation" is appropriate to use against the 'Boycott and Divest' crowd, I do agree that it shouldn't be used against every criticism of Israel. We may expect Is(...)"StevenKalka

"Well said, Martin. If the people who scream "delegitimisation" at every criticism thought a little harder, there would be no need to make progressive cases for Israel. They are the people who are c(...)"Joe Millis

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POSTS BY MARTIN BRIGHT

Philosophers call it a category error: when we mistakenly believe that a phenomenon should adhere to certain rules. The textbook example is the foreign tourist at Oxford who is shown the great colleges and the Bodleian library and then asks: "But where is the famous university?" In this case, the mistake is not a serious one.

Philosophers call it a category error: when we mistakenly believe that a phenomenon should adhere to certain rules. The textbook example is the foreign tourist at Oxford who is shown the great colleges and the Bodleian library and then asks: “But where is the famous university?” In this case, the mistake is not a serious one.

I have to admit to a real feeling of shame as I write these words: the shame at the fear I felt in expressing my solidarity for my fellow journalists at Charlie Hebdo.

The terrorists who killed 12 people at the French satirical magazine this week have ushered in a horrible new reality. Everyone who has dared to criticise or ridicule extremist Islam is now a target for terrorists.

Every few pages in Henry Kissinger's grandly titled World Order comes a fact that slaps the reader in the face and shifts the way you think about global politics. For instance, according to the former Secretary of State, each year between 1552 and 1917, Russia expanded by the equivalent land mass of many European states (100,000 square kilometres).

I won’t need to remind readers of this paper of the significance of the Jewish people’s last stand against the Roman occupiers following the destruction of the temple. Nor will I need to tell them of the importance of the story to the construction of Zionist identity or, indeed, the state of Israel.

As I write, I am watching the inter-faith prayer at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service.

South Africa’s Chief Rabbi, Warren Goldstein, is invoking the universal message of forgiveness contained in the story of Joseph in Genesis. With Joseph in a position of authority in Egypt, his brothers, who sold him into slavery, fear retribution.

Looking at the picture of EU foreign minister Cathy Ashton standing between representatives of the Iranian and American governments in Geneva late on Saturday night, it is easy to let the word “appeasement” slip from the lips.